Kiwi plant named ‘Red Queen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct kiwi plant of the species Actinidia chinensis is described. The cultivar results from a controlled pollination using a female A. chinensis selection RS1 and a male selection (Tomuri and Chieftain). Named parents (RS1, Tomuri and Chieftain) are believed to be unpatented cultivars in the United States. The new cultivar is distinguished by its medium fruit size, ovoid fruit shape, general hairlessness, greenish-brown fruit coloring, and its harvest date in mid-October in Italy.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Genus and species of plant claimed: Actinidia chinensis Planch.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims priority from Community Plant Variety Office (European Union) Application No. 20190516, filed Mar. 11, 2019, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kiwi plants in cultivation are mainly varieties of A. deliciosa, although some A. chinensis and A. arguta varieties are grown. A. deliciosa and A. chinensis are closely related and varieties of both types have large fruit (about 100 g) with hair on the skin. Main varieties of Kiwi plants include ‘Hayward’ (A. deliciosa) and ‘Hort16A’ (A. chinensis). ‘Hayward’ is not patented, while ‘Hort16A’ is subject to U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066. All Actinidia species are dioecious, so female varieties have to be interplanted with male pollinizers to ensure fruit production. Fruit are usually cut and eaten with a spoon. ‘Tomuri’ and ‘Chieftain’ are both esaploid males which are commonly used to pollinate esaploid varieties such as ‘Hayward’, and also ‘RS1’. As they are both not synchronized with Red varieties, which bloom much earlier than ‘Tomuri’ and ‘Chieftain’ so male pollen has to be collected from male vines one year in advance, and then distributed on females during blooming, either dry (mixed with lycopodium) or in a liquid solution.

‘RS1’ is a red kiwifruit variety which germinates in Northern Italy around 15 days before ‘Hayward’ (means around 3^(rd) week of March) and blooms 15 days before ‘Hayward’ (means around April 20^(th)). It is a medium vigorous plant with short interno-knots. It adapts to a wide range of climates, but barely stand temperatures below 0° C. cause of its high sensitiveness to Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (PSA), a bacteria that can result in the death of kiwifruit vines. It is harvested in Northern Italy about 35 days before ‘Hayward’ which means the last week of September.

Fruits can be stored for 2-3 months at 0° C.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinctive kiwifruit variety, designated ‘Red Queen’ Breeder's Reference: RK 2018. It was obtained during the course of a planned plant breeding program, which took place in the Emilia-Romagna region near Milan, Italy between 2008-2013. The ‘Red Queen’ variety was selected from a population of seedlings obtained from freely-pollinated ‘RS1’ fruits. About 450 seedlings of ‘RS1’ fruits were pollinated with various males, particularly ‘Tomuri’ and ‘Chieftain’ which both proved to be perfectly compatible with ‘RS1’. ‘Red Queen’ first flowered in April 2011 and fruits were assessed in October 2011. All referenced dates are northern hemisphere timings.

In 2012, ‘Red Queen’ variety was grafted on ‘Hayward’ and ‘Tomuri’ rootstock, and the asexually reproduced plants proved to be true to type. The location where the first act of asexual reproduction took place is Castel Bolognese (Emilia Romagna) Italy.

In 2014, the first trial plot of plants grafted on both ‘Hayward’ and ‘Tomuri’ were established in Latina, Italy. The resulting first fruits harvested in 2016 proved to maintain the unique features observed in the nursery.

Germination period is 10-12 days before ‘Hayward’, which means about one week after ‘RS1’. Flowering period is last week of April, means 10 days before ‘Hayward’ and one week after ‘RS1’. Ripening period is last week of October, about 25 days after ‘RS1’. Harvesting should be performed when the external pulp tends to lose its green color and starts to turn to yellow. The harvest date of the instant plant was Oct. 20, 2017 in Emilia Romagna (Northern Italy).

‘Red Queen’ is moderately vigorous and has close internodes. The germination percentage during spring is very high: 70-85%. The plant has a bushy growing habit and responds effectively to cuts of green pruning, generating a large number of offshoots. The ‘Red Queen’ variety presents panicles with a number of flowers ranging from 4 to a maximum of 7. The plant is malleable and responds very well to pruning. Production is uniform, with many single fruits, a few double fruits and a high share of USDA grade #1 fruits.

Fruits are oblong with a tendency to develop into a slightly pear shape, of variable length between 50-80 mm and width between 35-45 mm. The fruit's medial section is circular.

The peel has a green-brown 152D shade of color and is glabrous. The pulp is yellow 4B on the outside and red 44B in the center. The red 44B and yellow 4B color increases in uniformity after the 4th year of implantation and so does the overall ripening of fruits. The fruit's columella is cream-white 11D in color and of a medium-soft consistency, more consistent in proximity of the stalk.

The shelf life of ‘Red Queen’ is strongly dependent on the harvesting method, but is typically 4-5 months and, in ideal conditions, it can even reach 6 months.

Brix degrees at the time of consumption range from 19° to 21° with a medium level of acidity.

In the Table 1 and 2 descriptions, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Distinctive characteristics of the variety include the following shown in Table 1:

Number Characteristics State Expression 1 Plant: sex Feminine 2 Plant: parthenocarpy Absent 3 Plant: Vigour Medium 4 Young shoot: hair density Limited 5 Young shoot: anthocyanin Limited coloration on the growth edge 6 Stalk: thickness Medium 7 Stalk: offshoot color on the sun- Brown 199A exposed side 8 Stalk: bark texture Slightly coarse 9 Stalk: hair density Light 10 Stalk: strength Medium 11 Stalk: length 50/70 cm 12 Stalk: diameter 12/15 mm 13 Stalk: lenticels size Small, 3-4 per square cm 14 Stalk: lenticels shape Thin rectangular 15 Stalk: lenticels length 3-4 mm 16 Stalk: lenticels number Medium 17 Stalk: surface of the bud’s base Medium, almost smooth 18 Stalk: presence of pearls Absent 19 Stalk: size of the pearl’s orifice Absent 20 Leaf callus Concave 21 Stalk: fibrous part Fibrous, watery 22 Leaf blade: shape Mostly heart-shaped in the young age. It becomes orbiculate in the adult plant with a slightly dentate margin. Margin shows 3-4 spikes per linear cm. 23 Leaf blade: length/width ratio 1:1. Average leaf width is 18-20 cm. Average length is 13-15 cm. 24 Leaf blade: tip’s shape Acuminate in adult age; shallow notch in a round apex in young age. 25 Leaf blade: basal lobes Lightly overlapping 26 Leaf blade: number of ciliated Medium indentations 27 Leaf blade: hair density in the Absent upper part 28 Leaf blade: hair density in the Very sparse - subtle lower part 29 Leaf blade: green intensity in the Intense green 134A upper part 30 Leaf blade: color in the lower part Light green 134C 31 Leaf blade: variegation Absent 32 Leaf blade: variegation color Absent 33 Leaf: stalk size and texture Average length 12-15 cm, average diameter 3 mm, and smooth texture 34 Stalk: anthocyanin color in the Absent upper part 35 Panicle: type Raceme type with 4 to 7 single flowers. Sometimes double/triple flowers can appear. 36 Panicle: number of flowers 4-7 37 Flower bud: first bud position Basal 38 Flower bud: shape Mostly round 39 Flower bud: length 3 mm 40 Flower bud: diameter 4-6 mm 41 Flower bud: color Light brown 199B 42 Flower: number of sepals 6 or 7 43 Flower: sepal color 146D 44 Flower: sepal shape Similar to an upside- down teaspoon. Apex is mostly round. 45 Flower: sepal consistency Slightly fibrous 46 Flower: sepal texture Margin is smooth. Smooth on the inner side and slightly hairy on the outer side. 47 Flower: density of sepal hairs Medium 48 Flower: diameter and depth Medium - 52 mm; 20 mm depth. 49 Flower: petal placement Overlapping 50 Flower: profile shape Flat 51 Flower: number of stigma Medium - 30/35. 52 Flower: placement of stigma Irregular 53 Petal: main color of the adaxial side White-yellowish 155B 54 Petal: main color shade 145B 55 Petal: secondary color on Green 145B adaxial side 56 Petal: secondary color distribution Almost absent 57 Petal: shape Round. Apex mostly round, sometimes slightly acuminate. Margin irregular base: slightly acuminate. 58 Petal: texture Velvety for both surfaces 59 Anther: color Intense yellow 6A 60 Fruit: weight Average weight: 85-90 gr 61 Fruit: length 50-80 mm 62 Fruit: width 35-45 mm 63 Fruit: length-width ratio 1:1.7 64 Fruit: shape Oblong with a tendency to develop into a slightly pear shape 65 Fruit: shape in central section Circular (approx. mid fruit) 66 Fruit: lower part Lightly concave 67 Fruit: presence of sharp pro- Absent tuberance 68 Fruit: presence of ring at the calyx Absent 69 Fruit: edge shape at stem end Lightly rounded 70 Fruit: stem length Long - 4-5 cm 71 Fruit: stem diameter 2-3 mm 72 Fruit: stem length in relation to Long fruit length 73 Fruit: presence of lenticels on skin Limited - lenticel number is approximately 6/7 per square centimetres 74 Fruit: lenticel diameter 2 mm 75 Fruit: lenticel height 1 mm 76 Fruit: Absence of hair on skin Hairs sparsely present 77 Fruit: hair density Very sparse 78 Fruit: hair color Light brown, almost absent 79 Fruit: hair adherence to skin Strong 80 Fruit: skin color Green-brown 152D, depending on light exposure 81 Fruit: hair adherence to pulp Strong 82 Fruit: color of external pericarp Greenish yellow 4B 83 Fruit: color of loculi-alveoli Red 44B 84 Fruit: diffusion of red color around High the loculi-alveoli (if present) 85 Fruit: intensity of the red color Strong in the loculus 86 Fruit: extent of the columella in Medium relation to the fruit 87 Fruit: overall shape of the colum- Circular ella in themid-section 88 Fruit: color of the columella Cream white 11D 89 Fruit: sweetness High 90 Faiit: acidity Medium 91 Period of bud breakage Medium-premature, approximately March 5. 92 Period of flowering Averagely premature, approximately April 22. 93 Period of ripening for harvesting Averagely tardive - approximately October 20.

The typical and observed plan height at age 3 is about 4 meters, plant growth covers about 6-7 sqm., trunk texture is smooth, and trunk color is 177A.

The new variety can be asexually reproduced, both by promoting roots on cuts, using warm beds, or more conveniently through grafting on selected rootstocks. Plants grafted on male rootstocks proved to be more vigorous and more resistant than straight plants from cuts. Grafting can be operated within a wide window, from May into July. English single or double cut is the most common grafting technique. Trial plantings of grafted plants established in both Emilia Romagna (Castelbolognese) and Latina area in 2014 have shown that the unique combination of characteristics come true to form, are established, and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Images show in the following identified pictures are from plants that are approximately four years from grafting.

The illustration on sheet 1 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the orchard.

The illustration on sheet 2 shows closeup of typical fruit of the new variety in the orchard.

The illustration on sheet 3 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the orchard in cross-section, 10 days before harvest.

The illustration on sheet 4 shows a typical fruit of the new variety in the studio and in cross-section.

The illustration on sheet 5 shows a typical fruit of the new variety in the studio and on a scale.

The illustration on sheet 6 shows typical fruit of the parent female ‘RS1’ species in the studio, including in cross-section.

The illustration on sheet 7 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the studio compared with the parent female ‘RS1’ species, including in cross-section.

COMPARISON TO CLOSEST VARIETY

‘Red Queen’ variety shows some distinctive features common to ‘RS1’ varieties, such as a navel at the bottom, oblong shape with a tendency to develop into a slightly pear shape, hairless fruits and very high fertility.

Comparison with the similar variety ‘RS1’ (protected by CPVO Europe under the title # EU46694) shows that ‘Red Queen’ may be distinguished as follows in Table 2:

Comparison With Similar Variety. Observations made under Italy Growing Conditions 2016-2019 Characteristic ‘RS1’ ‘Red Queen’ FRUIT: Harvest date Late September Late October Color of Bright yellow (44A)/ Greenish yellow ripe pericarp Bright red (44B) (4B) Skin color Greenish brown Greenish brown (152D) (152D) Mean fresh weight 70-80 grams 85-100 grams Mean dry matter at 19-23% 19-22% harvest Average length 60 mm 50-80 mm Average width 37 mm 35-45 mm Core diameter 12 mm 13 mm Width/length ratio 0.61 0.588 Sweetness (Brix at 20-22° 19-21° maturity for consumption) General shape Oblong Oblong with a tendency to develop into a slightly pear shape Cross-sectional shape Circular Circular Shape of stylar end Navel Navel Skin: Hairness Absent Almost absent VINE: Shoots: Color 148A 148A Texture Smooth Smooth Length 30-40 cm Diameter 8-10 mm Stem: Color (upper) 165A 166A Color (lower) 199A 199A Mean diameter 9 mm 9.5 mm Texture Smooth Smooth Lenticels (if present) Present Present Length 40-50 mm Lenticel number 6/7 per square centimetres Diameter 2 mm Height 1 mm Leaf: Color (upper) 134A 134A Color (lower) 134B 134C Venation color 11B (upper) (mainly central vein only) Venation color 11A (lower) Shape Orbiculate Heart-shaped in young age; orbiculate in adult age Length 120 mm 130 mm Width 115 mm 120 mm Apex Acuminate Acuminate in adult age; shallow notch in round apex in young age Base Cordate Cordate Margin Ciliate Ciliate Texture Smooth Smooth Venation Pattern Reticulate FLOWER: Inflorescence: Predominant number 5-6 4-7 of flowers Petiole: Length 100-105 mm 105-115 mm Color 162A 162B Length 35 mm 37 mm Color 135C 135C Hairs Smooth Smooth Length of hairs 12-15 cm Diameter 3 mm Texture Smooth Flower: Coloration of petals Bi-colored Bi-colored Primary color 155A 155B Secondary color 145A 145B Petal shape Round Petal apex Mostly round, sometimes slightly acuminate Petal margin Irregular Petal base Slightly acuminate Petal texture Velvety for both surfaces Base of petals 48 mm 50 mm diameter Arrangement of Overlapping Overlapping petals Mean number of 5-6 6 petals/flowers Mean length of petals 24 mm 26 mm Mean width of petals 21 mm 22 mm Petal ratio of 1.15 1.17 length/width Petal shoulder Present Very pronounced Filament color 157A 157A Anther color 6A 6A Attitude of styles Erect Erect Curvature of styles Absent Absent Color of styles 157A 157C Amount of hair on Dense Dense ovary Color of ovary 157A 157A Shape of ovary Roundish Diameter of ovary Appx 6 mm Sepals: Number of sepals 6-7 6-7 Color of sepals 146C 146D Length 8.5-11.0 mm 9.3-11.5 mm Mean length 10.0 mm 10.3 mm Sepals diameter 6.7 mm 7.0 mm Flower opening Mid-April Late April Vegetative bud break Mid-March Early March Plant/fruit disease None None and pest resistance Plant hardiness zone Unknown Unknown or heat/cold resistance

The most striking differences between ‘RS1’ and ‘Red Queen’ are the fruit shape (‘RS1’ is more pear-shaped, while ‘Red Queen’ is more oblong with a tendency to develop into a slightly pear shape) and size, flowering and harvest times, and storability. The fruit size is significantly bigger than ‘RS1’, and the biggest fruits on ‘Red Queen’ are obtained on medium wood, while the ‘RS1’ needs larger, strong wood to reach decent size. The bud break and blooming of ‘Red Queen’ are both delayed by about 1 week beyond that of ‘RS1’. Also, fruit storability or ‘Red Queen’ is much longer than that of ‘RS1’, typically 4-5 months for ‘Red Queen’ versus two months for ‘RS1’. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct kiwi plant of the species A. chinensis Planch substantially as herein described and illustrated. 